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PubMed2000

The community-based malaria control programme in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. A review of programme set-up, activities, outcomes and impact.

Tigray, the northernmost state of Ethiopia, has a population of 3.5 million, 86% rural, and 56% living in malarious areas. In 1992 a Community-Based Malaria Control Programme was established to provide region-wide and sustained access to early diagnosis and treatment of malaria at the village level. 735 volunteer community health workers (CHWs) serve 2,327 villages with a population of 1.74 million, treating an average of 489,378 patients yearly from 1994 to 1997. Recognition of clinical malaria is similar for CHWs and health staff at clinics where there is no access to microscopy. In 1996 a pilot community-financing scheme of insecticide-treated bednets was well accepted, but re-impregnation rates fell in 1998 because of war-related social upheaval. Indicators from health institutions show a progressive increase in malaria morbidity from 1994 to 1998. Repeated mortality surveys show a 40% reduction in death rates in under-5 children from 1994 to 1996 and a 10% increase from 1996 to 1998. These trends may be related to increased malaria transmission with water resources development, increased seasonal labour migration to malarious lowlands, prolongation of the transmission season with climate changes, and increasing chloroquine resistance throughout Ethiopia. Progressive extension of CHW services to ensure better coverage of women, children, migrant workers and communities near water development projects, change to first-line treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, extension of the impregnated bednet initiative, and development of a regional warning system for epidemics should result in a greater impact on morbidity and mortality.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Priority for primary health care: its development and problems.

National health policies of many countries stress priority for primary health care (PHC). This emphasis has arisen as a reaction to large expenditures on hospitals and sophisticated technology in major cities of developing countries, while vast rural populations have been virtually ignored. The paradox developed from colonial and neo-colonial emulation of European and North American medical models. In 1978, an international conference of WHO/UNICEF at Alma-Ata, USSR defined the meaning of PHC, along with several principles of organization and equity under which it should be provided. To reach rural people with PHC, thousands of community health workers have been prepared and stationed in villages. Their training, however, is very brief and, with weak supervision, their performance has been disappointing. To achieve the WHO goal of "Health for All" through PHC requires greatly expanded education of public health leaders, who can supervise and inspire community personnel.

Global Health↗
PubMed2005

Community-directed interventions strategy enhances efficient and effective integration of health care delivery and development activities in rural disadvantaged communities of Uganda.

The community-directed interventions (CDI) strategy achieved a desired coverage of the ultimate treatment goal (UTG) of at least 90% with ivermectin distribution for onchocerciasis control, and filled the gap between the health care services and the communities. However, it was not clear how its primary actors--the community-directed health workers (CDHW) and community-directed health supervisors (CDHS)--would perform if they were given more responsibilities for other health and development activities within their communities. A total of 429 of 636 (67.5%) of the CDHWs who were involved in other health and development activities performed better than those who were involved only in ivermectin distribution, with a drop-out rate of 2.3%. A total of 467 of 864 (54.1%) of CDHSs who were involved in other health and development activities also maintained the desired level of performance. They facilitated updating of household registers (P<0.05), trained and supervised CDHWs, and educated community members about onchocerciasis control (P<0.001). Their drop-out rate was 2.6%. The study showed that the majority of those who dropped out had not been selected by their community members. Therefore, CDI strategy promoted integration of health and development activities with a high potential for sustainability.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1994

Measles in rural Bangladesh: issues of validation and age distribution.

In the Third World, scientists have described thoroughly the pattern of measles in Africa. In Asia, however, the epidemiology of measles has been poorly described. In 1989, a measles surveillance system was initiated in Matlab, rural Bangladesh in order to monitor measles incidence in the area. The population (100,000), which has relatively low immunization coverage, has an excellent demographic surveillance system which allows accurate follow-up. The system works through trained community health workers who visit all households every fortnight and report possible cases of measles. Medical doctors review a proportion of index cases and cases in infants soon after the appearance of the rash. Of the 4673 cases reported in all age groups, 18% were visited by medics. Confirmation of diagnosis was related to the age at onset and overreporting by community health workers is documented. The incidence of measles was estimated at 43% of children < 5 years old. Of cases < 5 years of age, 14% occurred below the age at vaccination (incidence rate = 5.5%). A strong seasonal pattern is reported. Case-fatality rates are low. This is the first report which shows the effect of age on reliability of reported measles. It shows the misclassification likely to occur when reporting measles in large-scale surveys, particularly in infants. It also shows that the pattern of measles in this community resembles the pattern reported for African communities and calls for a review of immunization strategies with vaccination below 9 months of age.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Coping with asthma in immigrant Hispanic families: a focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how childhood asthma affects immigrant Hispanic families in the United States. Qualitative research is effective for understanding the social, cultural, functional, and structural aspects of asthma in the family context. Furthermore, such knowledge is necessary to develop culturally appropriate interventions for these families. OBJECTIVES: To describe participants' perceptions of their roles in caring for an asthmatic child, to compare family patterns of caring for an asthmatic child by parents' country of origin, to identify barriers to caring for an asthmatic child, and to evaluate specific coping needs of low-income immigrant Hispanic families caring for an asthmatic child. METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted with low-income, immigrant, Spanish-speaking Hispanic adults caring for an asthmatic child, including community health workers, mothers, fathers, and grandparents, along with women with asthma. Audiotaped focus groups were transcribed verbatim in Spanish, forward translated into English, and back translated into Spanish. Data analysis was performed using qualitative analytic methods. RESULTS: Forty-one participants represented a range of countries of origin. Different themes emerged for community health workers vs parents and grandparents and for women vs men caring for a child with asthma. All the participants reported strong beliefs in using folk medicines. Barriers identified included language, culture, poverty, lack of health insurance, and poor living conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the lack of asthma self-management skills, diagnostic uncertainty, and the use of folk medicine as factors that should be taken into consideration when tailoring interventions to improve asthma outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1979

The export of hazardous factories to developing nations.

The export of hazardous industrial plants to developing nations is examined for a number of industries. As hazardous and polluting industries come under increasing regulation in industrial nations, some of the affected processes are exported, without improvements to make them less hazardous, to nonregulating countries where cheap and uninformed labor is abundant. "Runaway shops" then market their products in industrial nations with the competitive advantage of not having had to comply with costly workplace and pollution-control regulations. The international trade impacts of hazard export include: export of jobs from regulating to nonregulating countries; shift of international balance of payments in favor of nonregulating countries; export of mortal health hazards and environmental destruction to workers and communities in nonregulating nations, in order to produce goods for consumption by the regulating countries; weakened competitive position of reputable manufacturers who incur control costs and complete in domestic and would markets against less scrupulous companies; prolonged widespread use of discredited, extremely hazardous technologies, arising from the continuing "subsidy" of certain industries by workers and communities exposed to uncontrolled, well-recognized, mortal health hazards; and aggravated international relations resulting from developing nations' awareness and concern over becoming dumping grounds for hazard export from industrial nations.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Scaling up of facility-based neonatal care: a district health system experience.

With proportion of neonatal mortality increasing within under-five deaths, innovative approaches and stronger health systems are needed in neonatal care. We present data of a scaled-up neonatal facility in a District Government Headquarters hospital in Southern India. The special care neonatal unit (SCNU) was a community propelled, public private partnership worked out on the principles of private funding of public institutions and effective budgeting of the public health care system. In the first phase the unit was optimized over 3 years with non-governmental organizations (NGO) and government support from a basic nursery to a SCNU. The unit was operational through fixed maintenance budget from government and mobilized funds from NGOs and beneficiaries. Community health workers were motivated for effective utilization. In the second phase the unit's performance was studied and statistically analyzed in two time frames before and 5 years into the upgradation process. Neonatal admissions from the district increased by 14.65%. Hospital stillbirth, early neonatal and perinatal mortality rates showed significant decline (p < 0.05). There was a 48.59% (CI: 25.46-77.80) increase in antenatal referrals from community health centers. Caesarian sections for neonatal parameters that affect obstetric decisions showed percent changes of 163.25 (CI: 31.18-430.45) and 73.4 (CI: 14.15-164.39) for prematurity and low birth weight (LBW), respectively. Significant decline in case fatality rates for LBW, sepsis and birth asphyxia (p < 0.001) were observed. The district perinatal mortality rate showed a decline. Within the purview of financial constraints of the public health system, private funding, public-private cooperation and effective budgeting may become significant. Motivation of health workers and community to effectively utilize public health care services sets an evolutionary process of referral and vertical linkage of health care system.

Hospitals, Public↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case studies from the biomedical and health systems research activities of the Swiss Tropical Institute in Africa.

Neither high theoretical efficacy of disease control tools, nor diagnostic accuracy, nor good compliance, nor adequate coverage can lead on its own to the final goal of community effectiveness. There is a complex relationship between these factors. The different steps in the process leading to effective health care in the community are discussed on the basis of biomedical and health systems research activities of the Swiss Tropical Institute. Schistosomiasis and malaria control provide the background to problems related to the efficacy of tools. In particular, information on the trial of a malaria vaccine candidate (SPf66) is given. Approaches to the rapid, accurate and economical diagnosis of communities at risk are discussed with reference to Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni. Health service support projects in Tanzania and Chad are presented to exemplify problems linked to the compliance of users/providers and coverage. Finally, it is shown that community effectiveness depends on the highest possible success rate for each step. This requires the co-operative efforts of all those involved: the scientist, the manager, the community health worker and, last but not least, the community itself.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Hais cuaj txub kaum txub--to speak of all things: a Hmong cross-cultural case study.

Cross-cultural medicine is a field that describes how disparate value and belief systems concerning health and disease affect the delivery of health care. This report describes the conflict between a Hmong immigrant family and the Western medical establishment over the care of their child with end stage renal disease [ESRD]. The health care providers, social service agencies and medical center failed to adequately respond to the needs of the family. The medical staff [nephrologist, nurse coordinator, dietician, social worker, and CPS worker] worked with a transcultural nurse, Hmong community health worker and the family, to design and negotiate a treatment plan that would be acceptable to the family and the health care team. Trust was reestablished between the family and the healthcare providers and the medical outcome for the child improved.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Exposure pathway evaluations for sites that processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is currently evaluating the potential public health impacts associated with the processing of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite at various facilities around the country. Vermiculite ore contaminated with significant levels of asbestos was mined and milled in Libby, Montana, from the early 1920s until 1990. The majority of the Libby ore was then shipped to processing facilities for exfoliation. ATSDR initiated the National Asbestos Exposure Review (NAER) to identify and evaluate exposure pathways associated with these processing facilities. This manuscript details ATSDR's phased approach in addressing exposure potential around these sites. As this is an ongoing project, only the results from a selected set of completed site analyses are presented. Historical occupational exposures are the most significant exposure pathway for the site evaluations completed to date. Former workers also probably brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing, shoes, and hair, and their household contacts may have been exposed. Currently, most site-related worker and community exposure pathways have been eliminated. One community exposure pathway of indeterminate significance is the current exposure of individuals through direct contact with waste rock brought home for personal use as fill material, driveway surfacing, or soil amendment. Trace levels of asbestos are present in soil at many of the sites and buried waste rock has been discovered at a few sites; therefore, future worker and community exposure associated with disturbing on-site soil during construction or redevelopment at these sites is also a potential exposure pathway.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed2006

The Kansas Health Education Training Center: caring for the underserved.

The State of Kansas was awarded Health Education Training Centers (HETC) DHHS/HRSA, BrHPr Federal funds for the first time in 2002 through 2005. The three-year grant award was under the leadership of the Nurse-Midwifery Education faculty of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Nursing. Federal objectives included: 1. To facilitate interdisciplinary clinical training for health professions students from nursing, medicine, and allied health at targeted underserved communities. 2. To deliver culturally appropriate health care information to underprivileged populations at targeted underserved communities. 3. To conduct continuing education activities for community health workers and health professionals serving vulnerable urban and rural populations. 4. To recruit and mentor high school students from disadvantaged populations to pursue health professions. This three-year state-wide program addressed access to quality health care for underprivileged and underserved populations in select communities to improve health status, through community-based care that is culturally competent, multidisciplinary, sensitive to needs of special populations and augmented by health professions students. This article provides a review of two selected community-based interventions in Sedgwick and Wyandotte counties (addressing BrHPr federal objectives one and two) implemented to enhance care for immigrant pregnant women and underserved patients diagnosed with diabetes, respectively. Also included is a review of literature related to the efficacy and utilization of community based health workers (CHWs) in caring for vulnerable populations.

Area Health Education Centers↗
PubMed2004

[Community health agent program: perception by patients and health service workers].

Two basic premises of Brazil's Community Health Agents Program (PACS) are to value the family and community to which the program belongs and to encourage their participation in health promotion and disease prevention. This study focused on the work developed by PACS in Bauru, São Paulo State, as perceived by the community health agents and the families served by them. As the study's point of departure, 22 community health agents and 22 representatives of families were interviewed, randomly selected according to residential micro-areas. Two focus groups were formed according to the PACS to which the community agents and families belonged. Qualitative analysis of the answers demonstrated agreement between the perceptions by community health agents and the community in the two focus groups. However, the two focus groups differed from each other. Distinct realities were observed in the two communities, thereby orienting new program actions and handling of local difficulties.

Brazil↗
PubMed1996

Community participation in HIV prevention: problems and prospects for community-based strategies among female sex workers in Madras.

The concept of strengthening community action within the context of HIV prevention is gaining popularity among health circles, with organizations such as gay volunteer groups in the U.S. providing positive evidence of the potential role of community participation in HIV/AIDS prevention and care efforts. Care must be taken, however, in assuming that participation can easily be achieved among all high-risk groups. This paper examines problems and prospects for participation in HIV prevention strategies among commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Madras. Based upon the experiences of a pilot project established by the Tamil Nadu State Government AIDS Cell and WHO, it finds that the organization of the commercial sex trade in Madras is not highly conducive to collective action. Identifying factors that have frustrated attempts to promote community-based strategies in the city, the paper suggests that this approach is unlikely to succeed unless there are significant changes to the institutional arrangements that keep sex workers in a position of subordination and exploitation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

[Dermatology in the primary health care system. Long-term outcome of a self-help project with children in rural Kenya].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In spite of the importance of skin diseases in Africa south of the Sahara, dermatology is insufficiently represented within the established primary health care systems. Aim of this study was to find out whether an integrated dermatology project could reduce the prevalence of dermatoses. PATIENTS/METHODS: Since 1994 trained community health workers have carried out regular weekly visits to schools and nurseries in 10 communities in rural western Kenya. Epidemiological studies were done in 13 schools in 4 communities involving 5780 and 4961 pupils one year before (1993) and 5 years (1999) following the introduction of the dermatology project. RESULTS: Within this period the prevalence of bacterial skin infections fell from 12.7% to 11.3% (n.s.). Mycoses rose from 10.1% to 13.9% (p < 0.05), while arthropod infections (mainly scabies) remained unchanged with a prevalence of 8.3% in 1993 and 8.0% in 1999 (n.s.). Dermatitis also showed no changes (1.7% in both years). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of infective dermatoses depends not only on medical treatment but also far more on socio-economic factors.

Child↗
PubMed1995

How do health service managers respond to qualitative research?

During 1992 a qualitative evaluation of a government health service-run community health worker (CHW) project in South Africa found that project workers were doing good work despite serious structural shortcomings related to lack of community participation and inadequate integration of the project in the health district system. Recommendations were made to develop the project in order to enhance community involvement, to build closer integration between the project and the services offered at the health centre, and to collaborate with non-government CHW projects in neighbouring areas. The evaluation study was followed up one year later by interviews with health managers to determine their response to the evaluation. The managers reported that they had found the qualitative data valuable for understanding how clients perceived the health service, and for planning a more community-responsive service. Despite this, the recommendations from the evaluation were not implemented and political developments in the district resulted in the CHW project being closed down. It is concluded that qualitative evaluators need to carefully explore the political context of primary health care interventions in order that their research provides useful data for decision-making.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2002

Staff/bed and staff/patient ratios in South African public sector mental health services.

OBJECTIVES: To document staff/bed and staff/patient ratios in public sector mental health services in South Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHOD: A questionnaire was distributed to provincial mental health co-ordinators requesting numbers of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who provide mental health care at all service levels; numbers of psychiatric beds; and numbers of patients who attend outpatient departments, clinics and community health centres. The information was supplemented by consultations with mental health co-ordinators in each of the nine provinces. RESULTS: The staff/bed ratio for the country as a whole was 0.3 staff per bed. For the provinces, the staff/bed ratios were as follows: Eastern Cape 0.30, Free State 0.50, Gauteng 0.22, KwaZulu-Natal 0.34, Mpumalanga 0.89, North-West 0.27, Northern Cape 0.26, Northern Province 0.26, and Western Cape 0.59. For the country as a whole, the staff/bed ratios for each category of staff were as follows: total nursing staff 0.25, occupational therapists 0.01, occupational therapy assistants 0.01, social workers 0.01, community health workers 0.00, psychologists 0.00, intern psychologists 0.00, psychiatrists 0.00, psychiatric registrars 0.01, and medical officers 0.00. The ratio of ambulatory psychiatric service staff to daily patient visits (DPV) for the country as a whole was 0.6. CONCLUSIONS: Staff/bed ratios in South African mental health care are low relative to developed countries. Staff/DPV ratios highlight both the need to develop ambulatory care personnel for mental health care, and problems associated with monitoring the delivery and utilisation of mental health services within an integrated health system at primary level.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed2004

Cross-boundary working: a generic worker for older people in the community.

The care of older people often crosses the boundaries of health and social care. The new role of a health and social care trained generic worker was developed to provide comprehensive care for older people living at home. The role is a cross between a nursing auxiliary, health care assistant and a community support worker. The evaluation of the one-year pilot project demonstrated that clients were very satisfied with the care they received, particularly the emotional aspects of care. A high proportion of the generic workers time was spent listening and responding to their clients' mental health needs, and providing comfort and emotional support. Having been trained by local health professionals, the generic workers felt valued and respected, better able to communicate with their health colleagues, and therefore able to provide holistic care to their clients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of Salud Para Su Corazón (Health for your Heart) -- National Council of La Raza Promotora Outreach Program.

INTRODUCTION: In 2001, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute partnered with the National Council of La Raza to conduct a pilot test of its community-based outreach program Salud Para Su Corazón (Health for Your Heart), which aims to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease among Latinos. METHODS: The effectiveness of promotores de salud (community health workers) in improving heart-healthy behaviors among Latino families participating in the pilot program at seven sites was evaluated. Data on the characteristics of the promotores in the Salud Para Su Corazón program were compiled. Promotores collected data on family risk factors, health habits, referrals and screenings, information sharing, and program satisfaction from 223 participating Latino families (320 individual family members) through questionnaires. Paired t tests and chi-square tests were used to measure pretest-posttest differences among program participants. RESULTS: Results demonstrated the effectiveness of the promotora model in improving heart-healthy behaviors, promoting community referrals and screenings, enhancing information sharing beyond families, and satisfying participants' expectations of the program. The main outcome of interest was the change in heart-healthy behaviors among families. CONCLUSION: The community outreach model worked well in the seven pilot programs because of the successes of the promotores and the support of the community-based organizations. Successes stemmed in part from the train-the-trainer approach. Promotoria, as implemented in this program, has the potential to be integrated with a medical model of patient care for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Adult↗